Apparatus for manufacturing wheel-tires.



J. K. WILLIAMS. APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WHEEL TIRES.

APPLICATION LED APR.1. 1909.

"Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. K. AMS. APPARATUS FOR MA RING WHEEL TIRES. APPLIOATIO PR. 1. 1909.

WILLI NUPACTU FILED A Patented Dec. 14, 1909. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

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ITED STATES PlgllEN T OFFICE.

JOHN K wiLLIAiii's'foF ands-mam; assrsnon or ONE-HALF To a WILLIAMSrounmwi AND macnmn COMPANY, or AKRON, orzro,,A conrolm'rron or 01110.

APPARATUS ron MANUFACTURING WHEEL-TIRES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that I, JOHN K. WILLIAMS, a clt zen-of-the United States,residing 'at Akron, in the oountybfcSummit and State of Oh1o,haveinvented newand useful Im- F provements in Apparatus forManufacturing Wheel-Tires, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing and repairingrubber articles such as vehicle .wheel tires, more particu-' larly tiresof the clencher type and the 'obj ect thereof is to provide avulcanizing mold to receivethe article, preferably provided with amandrel to sustain said article, with a portion of theinterior of saidmold provided with a recess or opening adjacent the article and with oneor more layers of material which is pervious to a heatingagencypositioned between said recess and the article and preferably conformingin contour to the conformation? desired to be imparted to the latterduring vulcanization.

A further object of "the invention is'to so construct the device thatthe heating'a'gency will have freev access to the ervious material forpermitting-it to act irectly on the rubber article to insure effectualvulcanization thereof. llViththe foregoing and other objects in.view,the invention consists in the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts constitutmg the invention to be here=inaftenspecifically "described and illustrated in thei'accompanyingdrawings which "form a part hereof wherein is shown the preferredembodiment of the invention,'butfit*is to be understood that changes,variations and modifications can=be resorted to which come with-inthescope of the claims hereunto'appended. g In the drawings, in whichsimilar refer-', ence numerals indicatelike parts in the 'differentfigures: Figure 1 is a transverse; sectional view of 'a vulcanizing moldwith a tire inposition therein mounted upon a suitable mandrel. Fig 2:18aplan of a twopart mold embodying this invention with portions thereofbroken away to betterillustrate the construction thereof; and, Fig. 3

, Specification of Letters Patent.

with a tire Patented Dec; 14, 1909.

7 Application filed A ril 1,1909. I Serial No. 487,272.

is a transverse sectional view of a slight modification of the moldshown in Fig. 1 positioned therein mounted. upon a; suitable mandrel. Ir

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the reference numeral 1denotes an aunular core or mandrel having the shape in cross sectionwhich it is desired to impart to the'interior of the completed tire, theinner portion of which is provided with an inwardly-projecting flange 2which serves to strengthen the-same and provides means to receive andlimit the movement of the mold sections when the same are clampedtogether preparatory to vulcanizing the tire, and this flange alsoconstitutes means for accurately maintaining the position of the core 1in the mold during the vulcanization of the tire.

The mold sections referred to by the reference numerals 3 and 4' areintended to occupy positions on opposite sides of the core, and are.providedat intervals with registering pairs of outwardly projectinglugs 5 and inwardly-projecting pairs of lugs 6, the members of each pairof lugs being spaced' apart from eachother to permit the placingbetweenthem of clamping bolts which extend from the registering lugsonone member to the lugs on the. other member for: clamping 'saidsections together, but as this is a common meansv of uniting moldsections and fully understood by persons skilled in this art, a furtherdescription-thereof isbelieved to .be unnecessary. The inneroppositelydisposed faces of the mold sections adjacent the c'orel areshaped to receiveand hold the shoe portion 7 of'a tire duringthevulcanization thereof, Both of-the mold sections 3 and 4 are reducedat 8 and 9 in order-to make it easier for th heat of vulcanization .tora diate easily and quickly to the tire contained in the mold. The innerface of-thetmold opposite the tread of thetire 10 is provided 7 witha-recess 11', preferably extending continuously around the entire-tread.of'the tire..

In constructing the moldse'ctions with recess ineach, each section maybe provided with a marginal flange 12 or these'fi'anges may be'omittedand the recesses in @the two,

mold sections form an uninterrupted cavity,

e-riably; slightly separa ted' and the outer pe-.

ripheral face of each sectionhas an inclined face 18 to hold a clampingring 22 for a purpose to be stated. 1

The invention contemplates positioning in the recess 11 one or morelayers 19 of a pervious material to cover the outer tread surface of thetireqand constitute a sustaining means for the latter of sutficientfirmness to maintain it in proper shape and conformation during thesoftening thereofincident to vulcanization and exert suflicient pressurethereon to cause a perfect union between the various portions or thetire to cause them to intimately unite; at the same time said layeiswill -be such as to permit a vulcanizing agent conducted thereto throughsuitable openings 20 to effectually vuicanize the selected portion ofthe tire. In positioning these layers, one edge of each layer will be 7placed in the respective groove 14 and held [there by one ofthe rings15, after whichone of the rings 16 is placedin the appropriate ,rgroove13 which forces the Wire hoops 15 firmly into clamping engagement withthe layers 19 thereby locking them firmly in position. The rings 16 areeach preferably held in position and clamped firmly in their seatsthrough the mediugn of holdfast devices 21. The grooves 13 arepreferably finade sufficiently wide so that when the rings '*-16 areseated therein the layers 19 may extend outwardly into the mold-cavity;and from thence be carried upwardly through the space between .tlieportions of'theumold sections adjacent-flier tire ltread and from thencebent outwardly; fonto the inclined faces 18. Each ring'2it isethenplaced in position which" clamps thelayerstlf) on the respectiveface 18, thus effectually holding the layers19 in position. "I It willbe stated that -in. forming the layers' 1 9i and shaping them previousto their actual use, a suitable form axis loyed corresponding to the.shape which is to be 'imparted'to, the finished tire? "The open1ngs-2Ofor the admission of vul-- fiti camzing agent are preferably arranged inrows with the openings adjacent rows in staggered relation with respectto the openings in the other rows.

The mold sections 3 and 1 are necessarily separated from each otherbefore the place- The iiol'd sections ment of the layers therein a i deach is prepared separafelyby 'elnploying a form or dummy, asbeforedescribed, for shaping the layers and after the "latter have beenshaped and securely fixed: in position, an unvulcanized article properlybuilt up on a coreis placed between the sections and the two sectionsclamped together by bolts, (not shown) extended between the oppositelydisposed lugs of adjacent sections which firmly clamp the mold-sectionsupon the unvulc'anized tire and also upon the flange 2 of the core, thussecurely holding it in, position against .movement duringvulcani-zation.- .The entire mold is then placed in a vulcanizing ovenand subjected to the action of'a vulcanizing agent which enters thevarious openings 20 and passes to all portions of the recesses 11 andfrom thence through the layers '19 of pervious material directly to theportion of the tire covered by this material, which is therebyeffectually. vulcanized, while at the same time heat is also transmittedto the balance of the tire through the vulcaniz'ing oven theyare-customarily laid on either of their sides as shown .both in Figs-1and 2, and as the vulcanizing agent usually employed is live steam, aconsiderable condensation of the same takes place in the recesses 11,due to the contact of the live steam with the comparatively cold moldand its contents. The water due to condensation in the lower half of themold which accumulates in the recess 11 on the under side, freelyescapes through the openings 20 and thereby permits the live steam freeaccess to the pervious material 19 but it will be seen that the recess11 in'the upperimold section cannot be drained through the openings 20and hence suitable drainagetubes 23 are employed which extend from therecess 11 outwardly through the shell of thqmold section to a suitableopening communicating with these drainage tubes 23 made through thepervious material topermit efficient drainage from the recess.-- Inorder tomake both tion thereof may be placed uppermost in the sides ofthe moldthesame, so that either secis provided with adrainage tube 23.After vulcanization, the mold sections are separated .in the usualmanner, the article-removed and a. fresh one substituted in place of theone ust vulcanized,without the necessity of changing the layer 19of'pervious material which may be used indefi nitely and contimtouslyuntil. worn out.

In Fig. 3 is shown a modification of the apparatus shown iii-Figs. 1 and2, in which the referencenumeral 25 denotes asimilar core provided witha protecting flange 26 on which is mounted the tire 27. Mold sec tions28 and 29 are positioned in the same shape and function to the lugs and(3 of' the device shown .in Figs. 1 and 2. The mold section 28 providedwitha circumferenttally-extending steam chamber 32 to 10 which rltillllisadmittcd through anopening and the mold section 29 is similarlyprovided with a circumferentially-extending steam chamber 3i havinganinlet 35. Each of the mold sections is provided with a recess 36,preferably made considerably larger than the recess 11' in the deviceshown in Figs. 1 and 2 and each is provided .with' a steam inlet opening37. The abutting portions of the mold sections adjacent the tread of thetire are provided with inwardly-extending flanges 38, preferably soconstructed as to be slightly spaced apart from each other when thesections are unitedand these flanges 38 are also provided with'draina-geopenings 39. The outer peripheral faces of the mold sections between theseries of lugs are provided withinclined faces 40 to receive theclamping rings etl. The mold sections 28 and 29 are also provided withcir- 50 cumferentiallyextending grooves d2 to receive rings 43- held inposition by holdfast devices- 44 and are further provided with annulargrooves 45 adapted to receive wire rings 46., The pervious material 47inthis modification of the device. is positioned in the-same manner asshown in Figs. 1 and 2 bythe clamping rings Band is carried upwardly andoutward through the space between the members 28 and 29 and securedinpositionby clamping rings 41."

In employing a mold constructed in accordanee with the foregoingdescription-,the rubber article, in this instance is illustrated asa't'ire mounted on the mandrel 25, and the mold,sections 28 and 29 areclamped onto the flange 26 through the medium of bolts extending betweenthe lugs 30 and 31 and when positioned; steam is admitted tothe'ch'ambers 32 and 34 through the medium offinlets *an'd and also tothe recesses 36-through the inlets 3T-when a new tire is tobe.manufactured, without the necessity 'of lacing the'same'in avulcanizing oven.

desired to repair atirc, either by cur- 1ng a puncture therein orbyplacing a new tread on the carcass of thesame, the hrs 13 placed in themold in the usual manner with either a new tread in positioiror thematerial which is'to close a puncture inserted therein-and steam isadmitted to the steam chamber adjacent the selected portion of the tire'which-.ie palrs it' by vulcanizing-the fresh material-,and in the caseof supplying a newtread t'o a ti'rc stea-m will beadlnitted both the'ieces'ses 36.. lTfwill he. seen from I I i the 'l'oregoing that in thelatter instance steam is employed only in the recess. 36, leaving thebalance'ot' the mold comparatively'cold so as not to .overei re thatPOI? tion which does not need further curing.

It will alsobe seen thatsteam may be admitted to either of the recesses36 orchambers or 34- so as to cure the rubber-in a selected portion ofthe tire if desired, without the necessity of placing the entire mold in.a vulcanizing oven.

It will be noted that while 'the drawings and descr1pt1ons have beenconfined to a mold tor vul'camzmg pneumatic tires 1n which it- 'isnecessary to employ a mandrel or core to support the tire, will beobvious that this invention may be applied vto molds for vnlcanizing anyrubber. article not requiring the employment of a core or mandrel. itfurther entirely within the scope of this invention to change the shapeof the core inorder to-adapt it to difierent types of rubber articlesand a core may be employed withoutan inwardly projecting flange, or inplace of a core such as is shown in the drawings, an inflatable air bagmay be used to sustain the inner cavity of the rubber article. Further,in view; of the fact that'it is now common practice to clamp the moldsections in a press, or by'other clamping means instead of bolts, thelatter may be omitted, entirely and'the mold sections placed in a presswhich holds them firmly in contacting relation during the vulcanizationof an article, the lugs shown in the drawings to receive the bolts forclamping the mold sections being merely one of the various ways employedfor holding the mold sections temporarily snugly together.

\Vhat'I claim and desire to. secure by Let-' ters Patent is:

1. A vulcanizing apparatus comprising a mold formed of 'a plurality ofsections, each of said sections having as a component part thereof alining of-pervious material to per- .mit o't' th 'passage therethroughof 'avulcanizing medium, each of said linings secured to its respectivesection.

2. A vulcani i-ng apparatus comprising a mold. tor-med of a plarality'ofsections, each provided with a 'recess to constitute a steam space, anda lining ofpervious material forn'iing a component part of each section,

each of said linings forming the wall of a stea'u'i' space. andeachlming' secured to ts rt-rsnective section, and each ofsatd-lunngsfurthermoreconstituting a means to prevent the distortion of the articlebeing vulcanized.

3. A vulcanizing apparatus con-iprising'a pair of mold sectionswitl'i'registering cavitics in their abutting faces'tohold' an art cleto be vulcanized, eachof said sectionsjpro-v vided "with arecess"communicating with'the avity therein, a layer of pervi'ousmaterial. ext nd ng, acr ss each of sald recesses; and

constituting approximately a continuation of the inner surface of saidmold cavity and means to introduce a heating medium to said recesses.

4. An apparatus of the class described comprising a core or mandrel,mold sections provided with registering cavities arranged to surround aportion of an article mounted on said core, each of said mold sectionsprovidedwith a recess communicating with the mold cavity thereof, apervious covering for each of said recesses and means for introducing toeach of said recesses a vulcanizing agent. 3 i

5. An apparatus of the class described comprising a core or mandrelprovided with aninwardly-projecting flange, mold sections provided withregistering cavities to inclose an article mounted on said mandrelarranged to engage a portion of said article on opposite sidesof saidflange, said mold sections each provided with a recess communicatingwith the cavity therein, a perviousmember extending across each of saidrecesses for holding-the portion of said article engaged thereby againstdistortion and means for introducing a vulcanizing agent to saidrecesses.

6. A tire-forming apparatus comprising a core or mandrel provided withan inwardlyprojecting flange, a pair of mold sections having registeringcavities to surround said mandrel, means for clamping said mold sectionson said flange, each of said mold sections providedwith a recesscommunicating with the cavity therein, a layer of pervious materialextending across each recess for holding the portion engaged therebyagainstdistortion during the vulcanization thereof and means forintroducing a vulcanizing agent to said recesses. 1

,7. r VHlCtlIilZlIlg apparatus comprising a pair of sections adapted tobe held-together having registering grooves in their abutting facesconstituting. a mold cavity, each of saidsections having a recessextending to said cavity provided with'an inlet opening for avulcanizing medium and a layer of pervious material across eachrecess'adapted to sustain the portion of an article engaged thereby .andpermit the passage of said medium thereto.

8. A vulcanizing apparatus comprising a pair of sections adapted to beheld together having registering grooves in their abutting facesconstituting a mold cavity,each of said sections having a recessextending to said cavity provided with an inlet opening for avulcanizing medium and a layer of pervious material across each recessof sufiicient rigidity to hold the portion of an article engaged therebyagainst distortion and of sufficient porosity to permit the passage of avulcanizing med um therethrough.

9. A vulcanizing apparatus comprising a pair of sections adapted to beheld together having registering grooves in their abutting facesconstituting a mold cavity, each of said cavity-provided with anindependent inlet opening for a vulcanizing medium and a layer ofpervious material extending across each recess to sustain the engagedportion of an article and permit'the passage of said medium thereto.

10. A vulcanizing apparatus comprising a pair of mold sections adaptedto be .held together, each of said mold sections. provided with a steamchamber, said sections having registering grooves in their abuttingfaces constituting a mold cavity, each of said sections further providedwith a recess extending to said cavity having an inlet opening for avulcanizing medium and a layer of pervious material across each recessto susby and'permit the passage of said medium thereto.

pair of mold sections adapted to beheld together, both of said moldsections process to sustain the portion of an articleiens gage'd therebyand permlt the passage of said medium thereto. 12. A vulcanizmgapparatus comprisinga I abutting faces constituting a mold, cavity,

opening for a vulcanizing medium, a layer of pervious material extendingacross each recess to, -sustain the portion of an article engagedthereby, yet permitting the passage of said medium thereto and means forhold-. ing said layers of material in position.

13. A vulcanizing apparatus of the class described comprising a pair ofmold sections adapted to be held together having registering grooves intheir abutting faces constituting a mold cavity, each of said sectionshaving a recess extending to said cavity providcd with an inlet openingfor a'vulcanizterial fashioned to conform to the shape to be imparted tothe vulcanized article. and extending across each recess to sustain thei portion of an article engaged thereby yet- 1 permitting the passage ofsaid vulcanizing' medium thereto.

11. A vulcanizing apparatus comprising a vided with a steam chamber eachof which a layer of pervious material across each re-c pair of moldsections adapted to be held together having registering grooves. m then:

ing medium, and a layer of pervious masaid sections having a recessextending to tain the portion of an article engaged thereeach of saidsections having a recess ex- Q tended to said cavity provided with aninlet.

l4.v Apparatus ofthe class described comprising mold sections providedwith registering cavities arranged to inclose a portion of an article tobe vulcanized, each or said mold sections havlng a recess extending fromsaid mold cavity and provided with 15. A vulcanizing apparatuscomprising mold sections provided with registering cavities arranged toreceive an article to be vulcanized, each of said cavities having arecess, a layer of pervious material covering said recess and fixedlysecured'to each mold section and'means for introducing to said recessesa vulcanizing agent.

1.6. A vulcanizing apparatus of the class described comprising moldsections provided with registering cavities arranged to receive anarticle to bevulcanized, each of said secions having a recess, a layerof pervious material covering each. recess and fixedly secured to itsrespective mold section, means for introducing to each recess avulcanizing agent, and each section having a drainage opening for saidrecess.

17. A vulcanizing apparatus comprising mold sections provided withregistering cavities arranged to inclose a portion of an article to bevulcanized, each of said sections provided. with a recess,'.each of saidmold sections fdrther provided with a groove adjacent the recess formedtherein, a member positioned in said groove, a layer or perviousmaterial across each recess having one side secured in said groove :bysaid member means for fixedly securing the other side of said layertofits respective section, and means for introducing to said recesses avulcanizing agent. i

' 18.- r vulcanizing apparatus comprising mold sections provided withregistering cavities adapted to surround a portion of an article to bevulcanized, each of'said sections having a recess communicating thecavity formed-therein, each of said mold sections further provided witha groove adjacent the recess formed therein, a holding member adapted tobe seated in each of said grooves, holdfast'means for said men1ber,'alayer-ofpervious material extending across each of said recesses,said'members adapted to secure'one side or tl1e' layers' tosaidseotions, means for-securing the other side of said layers to saidsections,.and"means to introduce a vulcanizing agent to said recesses.

19. 'A vulcanizing apparatus of the class described comprising moldsections provided,

' with, registering cavities adapted to surround-a portion of anarticleto be vulcanized, each of said mold sections provided with arecesscommunicating with the cavity thereof and a groove adjacent the recess,

each of said mold sections further provided with a'second groovecommunicating with the first groove, an element positioned in each ofsaid second mentioned grooves, a locking means in each of said firstmentioned grooves and arranged when seated to lock said elements in saidsecond mentioned grooves, layers of per-vious material arranged to besecured in said second mentioned grooves by said elements and held inposition by said locking members and extending across said recesses andmeans for introducing to said recesses a vulcanizing: agent.

20. A vulcanizing apparatus of the class described comprising moldsections provided with registering cavities adapted to surround aportion of an,article to be vulcanized, each of said mold sectionsrovided with a recess communicating with the cavity thereof and furtherprovided with a groove adjacent the recess, locking members arranged insaid grooves, layers of per-vious material having one side secured insaid grooves by said locking members extending across said recesses andout of cavities,

means arranged exteriorly of said sections for holding'the opposite sideof said layers and means for introducing tosaid recesses a vulcanizingagent.

21. A vulcanizing apparatus of the class described comprising moldsections provided with registering cavities adapted to surround aportion of an article to be vulcanized, each of said mold sectionsprovided with a recess communicating with the mold cavity thereof, alayer of pervious material extending across each of said recesses andhaving one side .securedto its respective mold section adjacent. therecess therein,- each of said layers having'its other side extended outof the cavity of its'respective mold section and lapping a portion oftheexterior of said section, means for holding the lapping portions of saidlayers against movement, and means for introducing to said recesses avulcanizing agent.

22. A. vulcanizing apparatus comprisin a plurality of mold sections eachprovidec with means to constitute a steam space having an inlet, alining of pervious material secured toeach of said sectlons andconstituting a wall for the 'steam space of its respective section andfurther constituting a component part of the .mold section, each of saidsections provided with a cavity, said cavities adapted to register andhave the walls thereof surrounding a ortion of the article to bevulcanized, said ayers of per vious material further constituting acontinuation of the walls of said cavities.

23. A"vulcanizing apparatus comprising a mold formed of a plurality ofsections,

G I 943,054 w each of said sections having a layer of per 1 myhand inpresence of two subscribing witvlous materlal to permlt of the passageof a nesses.

x 'ulcanizin medium each of said layers se- F cured to, aid formnig acomponent part of 7 JOE) WILLIAMS 5 its respective section, each of saidlayers bev \Vitnesses-z ing segment-shapedjn cross-section. I C. E.IIUMPHREY;

In testlmony whereof I have hereunto set -'J. Ross HUFFMAN.

